A-level Law is a popular subject among students. A lot of students wonder how hard A-level Law is and whether it is a good subject choice. This article will go over the difficulty and other questions students have regarding A-level Law.
How hard is A-level law?
A-level Law is moderately hard subject as it has an extensive syllabus, lots of content to memorize, requires analytical skills, and students are examined on a variety of question types inlcuding extended essay responses. However, A level Law becomes considerably easier with practice.
Most students find A-level law quite tough in the beginning. However, over time students improve their analytical skills and learn to write extended answers the way the examiners want which helps in getting a good grade.
The A-level Law syllabus is quite large and it inclues the following topics:
Students are required to memorize a lot of content for their law exams. In Chemistry and Physics, a large amount of the subject content can be tested in the labs. However, in A-level Law, you will be relying on the case studies of former legal proceedings. You will learn from and critically analyse how past lawsuits were dealt with. This is why some students claim A-level law is boring as there is very little practical work involved.
According to the AQA specification the A-level Law exam format is as follows:
| Paper 1 | Paper 2 | Paper 3 |
|---|---|---|
The nature of law and the English legal system (25 marks out of 100). Criminal law (75 marks out of 100). | The nature of law and the English legal system (25 marks out of 100). Tort (75 marks out of 100). | Law of contract (75 marks out of 100). The nature of law and the English legal system (25 marks out of 100). OR Human rights (75 marks out of 100). The nature of law and the English legal system (25 marks out of 100) |
| How it’s assessed Written exam: 2 hours 100 marks 33% of A-level | How it’s assessed Written exam: 2 hours 100 marks 33% of A-level | How it’s assessed Written exam: 2 hours 100 marks 33% of A-level |
| Questions A combination of multiple choice, short answer and extended writing questions. | Questions A combination of multiple choice, short answer and extended writing questions. | Questions A combination of multiple choice, short answer and extended writing questions. |
Overall the A-level law exams are not very complicated or challenging. The content is not overly complex like A-level Further Maths. The level of analysis required for A-level is moderately difficult. Most students manage to do well in A-level Law although some students do find it hard.
Is A-level law respected?
A-level Law is a moderately respected A-level Subject. A-level Law is decently regarded by universities and employers as it gives students insight into what law is about. Moreover, A-level Law helps improve the essay writing and critical thinking skills of students which explains why it is respected.
Some students feel A-level Law is not as respected as it should be. This is because universities are perfectly happy with enrolling students for Law degrees who have not studied A-level Law before. This is true, A-level Law is not a requirement to study Law at the university level.
Moreover, universities teach law from the very basics. This should not discourage you from taking law for your A-levels. Although the content is going to be repeated, the skills you learn from A-level law such as critical analysis and writing are transferable and you can build on them at the university level.
A-level Law is decently respected and regarded. If you want to pursue Law in the future then it is a good subject to study.
Do universities like A-level Law?
Universities definitely like A-level Law but they don’t love it. This is because A-level Law gives you a basic understanding of Law and teaches you essential skills such as critical analysis and essay-writing. However, universities teach law from the very beginning which explains why they only like it.
Is Law a good a level to take?
Law is a good A-level to take but not a great one. This is because you learn the basics of law and essential skills such as writing and critically analysis. You can easily learn these skills by taking an A-level other than Law such as A-level Literature or History. Moreover, A-level Law is not a requirement to study Law at university.
What are the Best A levels for Law?
Here is a list of the best a-levels to take for studying Law:
- A-level English Literature
- A-level History
- A-level Politics
- A-level Economics
- A-level English Language
- A-level Modern Foreign Languages
- A-levels Sciences such as Physics, Chemistry, and Biology
- A-level Maths and Further Maths
- A-level Geography, Philosophy
Universities do not require you to study A-level Law or any other subject when applying for a Law degree. However, they do want to see your ability to critically analyze, write essays, effectively communicate, and be able to apply your prior knowledge in unfamiliar contexts.
Hence the best A-levels for studying Law would be A-level Law, Economics, English Literature, History, and Politics. These are the subjects students usually take for studying Law.
Taking A-level Law will give you a clearer picture of the subject and help you decide whether you really want to study it in the future. There are a great number of online resources available for students studying Law. You might not find them for your particular specification but the different boards are quite similar in terms of content and marking.
Is economics a good A Level for law?
Economics is a great A-level for Law as it adequately prepares you for a Law degree. Economics will help you increase your general knowledge especially for corporate law and improve your critical thinking skills. A-level Economics is a good subject choice particularly for studying Law..
Is politics a good A Level for law?
A-level Politics is another really good A level to take if you want to study Law. This is because A-level Politics will help you improve your writing skills and gain political awareness which are essential components for a Law degree.
Is A level Law a soft subject?
A-level Law is considered a soft subject if you are planning to study a degree other than Law. A-level Law is a soft subject because there is no hard mathematics or overly complex concepts involved in the A-level law syllabus.
How hard is A-level Law compared to GCSE Law?
A level Law is a lot harder than GCSE law as the syllabus is almost 3 times larger and much more difficult. The questions in A-level Law require more in-depth analysis and the concepts are a lot more complex. The examiners marking becomes harsher and tougher at the A-level.
GCSE Law requires basic understanding and mostly rote learning to pass the exams. GCSE Law questions are fairly simple and straightforward. Most students find Law at the GCSE level quite easy. However, the same students find law at the A-level relatively difficult.
What are the Minimum Requirements to Study A-level Law?
The minimum requirements to study A-level Law are the same as other A-levels. You need to have a minimum of 5 GCSEs including Maths and English with grade 4-9 or above in order to study A-level Law.
You do not need to have studied law at the GCSE level in order to study it at the A-level. However, you do need to pass GCSE Maths and English with a grade of 4 (standard pass) or above. The other 3 GCSEs can be of any subject as long as you have passed the course with a standard pass (Grade 4 or above).
What can A-level Law lead to?
A-level Law can lead to a plethora of university and career opportunities including a law degree and a career as a lawyer. A-level Law can provide you with the base to get some of the highest paying jobs in the country later in your career. Alternatively, you can opt for a work-based law apprenticeship right after your A-levels.
A law degree is extremely valuable and highly regarded. You can get the following jobs with a law degree:
- Arbitrator
- Barrister
- Barrister’s clerk
- Chartered legal executive (England and Wales)
- Company secretary
- Costs lawyer
- Detective
- Licensed conveyancer
- Paralegal
- Solicitor
Moreover, a law degree will provide you with the opportunity to work in other fields such as politics, economics, finance, research, and teaching.
What is A-level Law Like?
Like GCSE, A-level Law focuses on the legal system and how it works. A-level Law also covers the interaction between law, morals, justice, society, and how they are connected to economics, history, politics, and technology. Unlike GCSE, A-level Law has a great emphasis on analysis and evaluation.
Law is a very interesting subject. Lawyers require strong analytical skills and need to pay attention to tiny details to have a successful career. A-level Law is not as hands-on as some of the other traditional sciences as they have lab components.
However, you will rely on former legal proceedings known as case studies in the A-level Law specification. It might seem slightly boring but there will be a great number of in-class discussions to improve the overall evaluative skills of law students.
You will learn a great deal from these class discussions so make sure you attend all of them. Law is an intricate subject and there will be a lot of things to memorize. Providing analysis backed with evidence is key to get a good grade in A-level Law.
Is studying A-level Law worth it?
Studying A-level Law is definitely worth especially if you want to pursue a law degree at university. A-level Law will give you a good idea of what Law is all about. Moreover, it will help provide you with several important and transferable skills such as writing and analysis.
How hard is it to get an A* in A level Law?
Getting an A* in A-level Law is no easy feat. A-level Law requires you to have in-depth knowledge of a fairly extensive syllabus and have a strong understanding of the subject matter. Although getting an A* at A-level Law is a hard task it can be made considerably easier with consistent practice.
Compared to other subjects such as A-level Maths, Further Maths and Chemistry, getting an A* at A-level Law is a relatively less difficult task. However, getting the top grade will require a great deal of practice and effort. All A-levels are reasonably challenging and require a lot more effort than their GCSE counterparts.
Conclusion
A-level Law is a great subject to study especially if you want to study Law at university. People telling you that A-level Law is a soft subject or not worth studying shouldn’t discourage you. A-level Law is well respected and totally worth it if you want to pursue law in the future.
However, in the case where you are not planning to pursue Law, then A-level Law is not an automatic choice. Instead you choose a facilitating subject such as A-level Maths, Literature, or Economics.
